SUU KYI'S BIRTHDAY

No celebrations in Burma

Exiles call for pressure to help free prisoners

Today women from Burma are celebrating the "Women of Burma Day" on Aung San Suu Kyi's 62nd birthday.

But Suu Kyi herself cannot join the celebrations. She is still locked up in her house on Inya Lakeside.

The Burmese democracy leader has been under house arrest since May 2003 after a clash between her supporters and the Burmese junta at Depayin Town in northern Burma.

"I pray for her release. She is already old and her health isn't so good," says Aye Aye Naing, a 28-year-old female migrant worker from Rangoon.

Aye Aye Naing is joining some 200 women from Burma to celebrate the Women of Burma Day.

Unfortunately, they have to celebrate the event in Bangkok, not in their homeland.

They call for the release of Suu Kyi, who is their role model in the struggle for peace and democracy in Burma.

"More and more women like Aung San Suu Kyi are gradually awakening in Burma. They are expressing their desire to gain peace and democracy through a non-violent movement," says Ma Noe Noe Htet San, a Kachin woman, who represents the Burmese Women's Union (BWU).

Under the military regime, hundreds of women in Burma have been arrested because they called for peace and democracy, Noe Noe says, adding the women had often endured tortured and sexual harassment in prisons.

According to the joint report released in 2004 by the BWU and the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), four female members of parliament died in detention due to bad treatment and torture.

Currently, Dr May Win Myint, the elected representative from Rangoon Mayanggone Township, is suffering a serious health problem in Insein prison. Like Suu Kyi, despite the fact that she was due to be released in 2004, she has had her prison sentence extended five times.

At present, there are 56 female political prisoners enduring a similar fate behind bars in Burma.

Noe Noe urged the world to pressure the Burmese military regime to release Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma.

"I would ask the governments of our neighbouring countries not to support the military junta," she said.

In Burma, people who cry for the release of Suu Kyi, still get arrested every day. Within the past month, 99 people had been arrested, many of them because they were praying for Suu Kyi's release.

Groups of women and human rights advocates around the world have joined the call for the release of the woman affectionately called "The Lady" and all political prisoners in Burma. More than 200 events are being held today to mark the Women of Burma Day and Suu Kyi's birthday.

In Thailand, members of parliaments from Asean countries are joining the celebration organised by Burmese MPs at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand from 6-8pm.

The book "Burma - Women's Voices for Hope," will also be launched during the event.

"Burma - Women's Voices for Hope" is a collection of writings from women of Burma, including activists in the country, refugees and exiles.

Subhatra Bhumiprabhas

The Nation